TummyStyle Maternity & Nursing Clothes

A new study by the Canadian Association Journal cautions that pregnant women, particularly those in their second trimester, have a significantly higher risk of getting into car accidents than women who are not pregnant. Although the cause is still uncertain, it did find the risk of getting into a serious accident rose 42% during the middle trimester of pregnancy.

Although I usually attribute such news or assertions to stereotypical data skewing, this research does seem to have some valid data behind it to warrant a cause for concern. The study leader, Dr. Donald Redelmeier, told NPR that he suspects the normal symptoms that accompany pregnancy and which may be more pronounced during the second trimester such as fatigue, insomnia and stress, are likely the reason for this uptick in driving accidents.

This would make sense as numerous studies have shown that fatigue is as big or sometimes bigger culprit than alcohol in many motor vehicle accidents. Also, pregnant women oftentimes have to deal with nausea, morning sickness and even under eating and unusual diets during this time. Physiologically expectant woman have increased hormones associated with pregnancy, namely progesterone and estrogen, which can lead to looser tendons and ligaments, thus further lack of coordination and reaction time when driving a car.

Now hopefully this study does not give us one more thing to be paranoid about during pregnancy as we already have such a laundry list of “don’ts” but increased awareness and vigilance is not a bad thing. Dr. Redelmeier tells NPR, that telling pregnant women to be careful drivers “seems like incredibly banal advice to give. I realize that. But every one of our crashes in the study could have been avoided by a small change in driver behaviors.” Those small changes included minimizing speed and distractions (not texting or reading email while driving or talking on cell phones while driving) and simply taking care to follow traffic rules could have avoided an accident.

Maybe skipping that morning coffee has increased the risk as well (they didn’t check out that variable)! In any case, go ahead and grab your keys and drive where you need to go, but just be a little extra careful to pay attention as you do have a baby onboard.

Are you looking for an all purpose, wear anywhere and look great Maternity Dress? Of course you are, because we all need an all-purpose summer dress to throw on in a moment’s notice! When you are pregnant in the warmer months, dresses are often the coolest, easiest, most comfortable clothing you can wear. The bonus is that a great maternity dress looks great on and you are well dressed for any occasion!

you should add to your closet this season. This pretty print Summer Maternity Dress features a faux wrap, which flatters all body shapes and evolving pregnancy bellies and is both easy to fit and wear. The V neck and cap sleeves are perfect for summer along with the breezy but fitted mid thigh length hem. The black and white striped zebra print are both slimming and stunning along with the pop of orchid flowers to celebrate the season. This fit and pattern creates a gorgeous silhouette which will continue to flatter your curves as your pregnancy progresses.

Pair this pretty maternity dress with strappy sandals or wedges (if your balance is still good!) and you are ready for a lunch with friends, a wedding or even your baby shower!

With May officially here, swimsuit season is fast approaching or already here depending on where you live. Now is the time to shop for maternity swimwear that you can wear for the whole summer. There are so many flattering and fun styles out there, shopping for maternity swimwear is not a challenge like it used to be back in your mother’s day. The only confusing part is maybe deciding what style you like best!

Pregnancy is a fun time to experiment with different styles you may not usually go. There is no right or wrong answer as long you choose a style you are comfortable wearing and that fits with a little stretch for your belly (and the rest of you) to grow as your pregnancy progresses. Now is the time to show off your curves! For many women that means have some cleavage for the first time!

If you frequent the pool or the beach in the summer, it may be a good idea to get several suits. Tankinis and Halterkinis are a good choice for maternity as they are a two piece suit that allows your belly plenty of room to grow while not exposing your whole belly. They are also super flattering for many different body types and come in a variety of pretty prints and colors. Some can even be mixed and matched for a whole new look.

A personal favorite maternity tankini is the Maternal America Eva. This pretty classic print suit is a navy and white striped halter tie top with matching solid navy bikini bottoms. This suit features a pretty cris-cross design across the lightly padded bust and adjustable string halter ties which can also tucked in or tied in back for a strapless style. The navy bikini bottoms also have adjustable side ties which give you a perfect fit throughout your pregnancy. This French Nautical theme print is a bestseller and perfect for a vacation get away or a casual pool gathering with friends.

TummyStyle exclusively carries the Maternal America Eva swimsuit, so grab one today if the style is right for you!

Mother’s Day is around the corner this Sunday, May 11th. If you are pregnant with your first child, then you qualify as a mother! Let the celebrations begin! Mother’s Day is a day we Moms can all appreciate. It is a time when we think of our own mother as well as scramble to buy a card and appropriate gift her, our Mother-in-Laws and other “mother figures” in our lives.

As a Mom of three, I know it’s easy to get lost in the craziness of this time in May with many school activities jam packed into schedules, Teacher Appreciation Weeks, School Performances and Open Houses, Dance and Music Performances, Art Shows and everything else nearly every day of the week and month, not to mention homework! These are the days I feel I need a personal assistant to tell me what to wear, where to go and to point me out the door – but that’s just the service we are providing for our children, right?!

Although busyness and motherhood seem to always co-exist, with a healthy dash of craziness, Mother’s Day is a time when we Moms should pause, reflect and relax, even for a few hours (or moments) just to savor all that we have. We are blessed to be mothers and to be able to raise and nurture our children. We are one of the most influential people in our children’s lives who they look up to, even if it doesn’t always seem like it in the midst of a toddler meltdown at the grocery store or when hustling them in and out of car seats while juggling diaper bags and snacks. We will always be their mothers, even when they are grown up and maybe someday have families and children of their own.

My kids get very excited about Mother’s Day and I know I should not take that for granted. They are very proud of their homemade cards and school craft Mother’s Day creations as well as any knick-knacks they may have picked up with their Dad at the store. Those homemade cut out glue-sticked cards and pictures are my favorite (I always promise to laminate them and maybe one day I will!)

Mother’s Day is truly about being appreciated for all that we are in our children’s eyes (and our Partner’s eyes as a mother to our kids). It’s our time to be open to relaxing and receiving that love for a whole day (even a whole hour!) If you are pregnant, you are on your way to meeting your child very soon, so savor Mother’s Day (while it’s still quiet!) and maybe enjoy a kick in the tummy or a cute ultrasound picture of your baby. Sooner than you think you will have a pile of homemade cards to laminate someday!

With May officially here, swimsuit season is fast approaching or already here depending on where you live. Now is the time to shop for maternity swimwear that you can wear for the whole summer. There are so many flattering and fun styles out there, shopping for maternity swimwear is not a challenge like it used to be back in your mother’s day. The only confusing part is maybe deciding what style you like best!

Maternal America Eva Tankini

Pregnancy is a fun time to experiment with different styles you may not usually go. There is no right or wrong answer as long you choose a style you are comfortable wearing and that fits with a little stretch for your belly (and the rest of you) to grow as your pregnancy progresses. Now is the time to show off your curves! For many women that means have some cleavage for the first time!

If you frequent the pool or the beach in the summer, it may be a good idea to get several suits. Tankinis and Halterkinis are a good choice for maternity as they are a two piece suit that allows your belly plenty of room to grow while not exposing your whole belly. They are also super flattering for many different body types and come in a variety of pretty prints and colors. Some can even be mixed and matched for a whole new look.

A personal favorite maternity tankini is the Maternal America Eva. This pretty classic print suit is a navy and white striped halter tie top with matching solid navy bikini bottoms. This suit features a pretty cris-cross design across the lightly padded bust and adjustable string halter ties which can also tucked in or tied in back for a strapless style. The navy bikini bottoms also have adjustable side ties which give you a perfect fit throughout your pregnancy. This French Nautical theme print is a bestseller and perfect for a vacation get away or a casual pool gathering with friends.

TummyStyle exclusively carries the Maternal America Eva swimsuit, so grab one today if the style is right for you!

Today it is Audrey Hepburn’s birthday who is my all time favorite Hollywood actor, humanitarian and beautiful do-gooder. I have always loved Audrey Hepburn’s style, demeanor, acting, personal story and especially her heart for children and those underprivileged around the world.

This is one of the reasons I named my daughter, Audrey, who also has tremendous grace and charm, although I am trying to steer her clear of any Hollywood acting ambitions! However, she does enjoy dance and fashion, and for now that seems close enough to her namesake for me!

I recently learned that Audrey Hepburn was one of the first fashionistas of Hollywood. She was close friends with Givenchy who proudly dressed her for many a red carpet and award show events starting with their first collaboration for the movie, Sabrina. Although Givenchy was initially disappointed he was working with Audrey Hepburn, he was expecting Katherine Hepburn and had formed a movie wardrobe for her. He quickly changed his tune as he got to know Audrey and developed a deep respect and admiration for her that would last a lifetime. He later called her “his muse” as they formed a professional and personal lifetime friendship with many famous timeless styles designed around her input and image.

Audrey was a pioneer of many classic styles that still endure today. She sported the LBD as her daywear and evening wear in the movie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s. She also showed how personal style is not just about what you wear but how you carry it off. Sometimes less is more, along with some unabashed bright red lipstick and two pearl earrings.

Audrey was also a fan of the fitted black cropped pant and the classic loafer which she sported in the movie, Funny Face. There, alongside Fred Astaire, Audrey showed off her dancing chops as well as her whimsical attitude and comedic side. These looks she would also wear off the set for the rest of her life.

On Audrey, even the simple white collared shirt could be a class act. She gave menswear inspired fashion choices a flair of femininity and beauty. A basic white collared shirt could be the frame for a beautiful face and a smile and give an air of empowerment to a woman who wanted to be taken more seriously in her day. She often said a Givenchy collared shirt would make her feel more confident in her own skin. She showed how clothing and wardrobe choices were deeply personal choices around not only your body type, but your personality, identity and even your mood you wanted to portray (or improve!) They sent a message to the outside world about what you wanted to show of yourself and your soul and how you wanted to be received.

Audrey Hepburn is one of my biggest fashion inspirations. She is one of the reasons I was inspired to start a fashion business. Although I will never personally be as elegant or chic as she, I love her unselfish spirit of generosity and especially her boundless love and support of children all over the world. I think her spirit of love, kindness and real giving is her greatest gift of herself. It is that unaffected enduring essence of her that is captured in her photos, images and even her movies when we look back and see her true beauty of her physical self and soul as we remember her today.

A recent study led by Englund-Ögge with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Institute of Clinical Sciences at the Sahlgrenska Hospital in Gottenburg, Sweden showed the diet was very important for a healthy pregnancy and for lowering the risk of a preterm birth. Dr. Linda Englund-Ögge told Reuters Health in an email.

"Diet really matters when it comes to preterm delivery and it is very important for pregnant women to choose or to increase the intake of an overall healthy diet consisting of fresh and raw vegetables, fruit, whole-grain products, certain fish and to drink water."

In recent years there has been more interest and more research done concerning maternal diet how it affects the risk of preterm delivery. In this study 66,000 Norwegian women participated between 2002-2008 to study the effects of diet and maternal health. Those who had a “Prudent Diet” consisting of cooked vegetables, salad, onion/leek/garlic, fruit and berries, nuts, vegetables oils, water as a beverage, whole grain cereals, poultry and fiber-rich bread had the lowest instance of preterm birth. Those with a “Western Diet” which included more salty snacks, sweets and chocolates, French fries, white bread, ketchup, sugar-sweetened drinks, pasta and processed meat products had a much higher instance of preterm birth.

There were a total of 3,505 preterm deliveries. The researchers found that women who adhered most closely to the Prudent Diet were 11 percent less likely to have preterm deliveries compared to women who didn't follow the diet as closely.

"We would like for doctors, midwives and all others who work with pregnant women to reinforce the important message that pregnant women should be encouraged to eat a balanced and healthy diet," Englund-Ögge said.

"There are modifiable risk factors that people can address to enhance their pregnancy outcomes," Dr. Louis Muglia told Reuters Health.

Based on this study, he said, a balanced diet with more foods rich in vitamins and other micronutrients probably facilitates a full-term pregnancy. Additionally women that followed the prudent diet were also more likely to have other beneficial lifestyle habits which would contribute to good pregnancy outcomes. These women were more likely to maintain a healthier weight, smoked less and avoided alcohol.

"So I think there are a lot of things that go along with that prudent lifestyle that increases the likelihood of having a healthy pregnancy and reduces the likelihood of a preterm birth as well," Muglia said.

This research is helpful in relying the message that we assumed for years, that as expecting moms we can positively affect our developing baby’s health by eating healthy foods during pregnancy and following a healthy lifestyle. The research noted that even the women in the “Prudent Diet” category did indulge in Western eatting from time to time and did indulge in sweets sometimes as well, but it’s the overall diet pattern that mattered the most. This is good news for all of us as it’s impossible to be perfect in pregnancy or anytime!

1. Eat 5-6 well-balanced meals each day. Morning sickness is actually lessoned when you don’t let yourself go too long between meals, symptoms can actually get worse on an empty stomach. Meals do not have to be big, but try and vary your food choices and stick to healthy snacks and meals.

2. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. Sometimes with morning sickness it’s easier to not drink as much with a meal and drink more between meals. Aim for 8-10 glasses a day while avoiding or limiting caffeine.

3. Exercise – it’s important to stay active during pregnancy, just stay cognizant of your exertion level and hydrate frequently. Remember your ligaments and tendons are looser, so wear supportive athletic shoes to exercise and use good judgment in choosing your exercise-- no wind sprints or downhill skiing! Also, take more breaks and keep in mind that your center of gravity is also shifting. Staying fit during your pregnancy will improve your overall health and make your postpartum recovery much easier.

4. Don’t drink alcohol or smoke. Also be careful about exposing yourself to second hand smoke. The jury is still out how much alcohol is safe during pregnancy. It is better to abstain drinking alcohol altogether than risk your baby’s health. There will be plenty of times for Happy Hours when your baby is older!

5. Wear comfortable clothing that you can move around in and that does not restrict blood flow. Non restrictive shoes are particularly important as you approach your third trimester. During this period of your pregnancy it is typical for feet to accumulate fluid and swell. Remember to prop up your feet during the day whenever possible to reduce any swelling.

6. Consult your doctor before taking any medications, even seemingly benign over the counter medications such as Tylenol have been found to be risky during pregnancy. Also consult your doctor for herbal remedies as these too can be risky for your baby's development.

There seems to be a lot of “be careful” advice and “don’t do’s” during pregnancy which can sometimes feel overwhelming. For the most part you can use common sense and listen to your body about what is and is not a healthy choice during this time. Now your get to eat, drink and think for two, not just yourself which is an adjustment for most of us. It is an incredibly important time during your baby’s development so although you don’t need to guilt yourself over every slip up you also want to use your best judgment for your baby’s optimal health and development. You owe it to yourself and your baby to be the best expecting mom you can be! Motherhood starts during pregnacy, so now is a great time to adopt healthy habits.

Happy April’s Fool Day! Today we celebrate TummyStyle’s 9th Anniversary! On this day 9 years ago, my daughter Audrey was 4 months old and she accompanied me in her car seat to the County Office in Auburn, California where we officially filed our business license for TummyStyle. Although the site was not alive for another 6 months, it was the inception day of our business.

I know April Fool’s Day is often a prankster and practical joke day, our business is not a joke and I view April Fool's Day as a good omen of things to come. I also view it as the official start of Spring and of new birth, which is fitting for this website which is dedicated to new mothers and new birth.

Our mission from the beginning has been to support, inform, inspire and offer creative fashion pieces for expecting moms and new moms. As a nursing mother for each of my three children I understand how hard it can be to find fashionable nursing clothes that are both flattering and made to easily accommodate breastfeeding (without looking like it!). After not being able to find a nursing dress for my goddaughter’s baptism as I was also a new nursing mom to my own baby, I was inspired to start my own website where women could find fashionable nursing and maternity clothes without needing to leave their house. This idea soon expanded to encompass all aspects of maternity and nursing fashion including maternity swimwear and nursing pajamas and loungewear.

Through our blog which we have maintained for over 4 years, we aspire to inform moms of the latest research on pregnancy, breastfeeding, nutrition, exercise, parenting issues as well as indulge in fun topics on maternity fashion and celebrity pregnancy. We know our site can’t be all things to all people, so we focus on our niche and hope you enjoy your stop here and maybe find a cute fashion piece or two to add to your maternity wardrobe.

We thank all of our customers and supporters throughout the years who have visited our site and supported our business. We wish you health and happiness with your pregnancy, babies and life!

New research out by the Life Science Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory discovered that walking is one of the best things you can do for your body, sometimes even better than running. This is good news for many expecting women and new mothers who are looking for a form of exercise that is safe and easy to do with their constantly changing bodies.

The study showed that while walking can be less vigorous than running, if you expend the same energy walking as you did running (this means you would have to walk vigorously and for a longer period of time than you would run for the same effect), you could potentially affect even more positive health changes than running for reducing blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, diabetes risk and cardiovascular heart disease. In fact, the more you walk, the greater the benefit.

For many pregnant women, running is no longer a safe or comfortable exercise option as ligaments are loser during pregnancy along with increased weight and a shifting center of gravity which throws off balance. Running is also not doable for most women postpartum as your body is still healing and vigorous exercise in general is not recommended in the early weeks and even months following delivery. Running is particularly unadvisable for nursing moms who may suddenly have a heavy milk supply and a fuller chest. Tight sports bras are not a good choice as they can cause clogged ducts and mastitis. Walking, however, is an excellent way to ease back into exercise without hurting yourself while also allowing you some bonding time with your baby outdoors. Pushing a stroller while walking gives you the added strength and cardio workout that is even better exercise than walking alone.

The study noted that to achieve the full benefits walking you need to clock in 10,000 steps a day. The good news is that these steps can be spread over the course of the day and you will probably find many of your day to day chores, errands and daily activities can expend up to half of that step requirement. However, if you are not used to walking this much, you should start slowly and gradually build up to this amount as you are safely able to do so. Also, make sure you invest in a good pair of walking or cross training shoes with adequate support for your joints to lessen the impact. Proper athletic shoes will help you avoid injury and comfortably walk further. (Please note that 10,000 steps of vigorous walking while pregnant should only be done with your doctor’s ok, and not for those who are early weeks postpartum.)

Pregnancy is a great time to make positive changes in your health and fitness routines for life. You will need the stamina not only for labor when you deliver your baby in the coming months but also for caring for your newborn which can be a marathon in itself. So if you are not on bed rest and you are in good enough health to slip on your walking shoes, look into clocking a few more steps into your daily routine. Also don’t forget to hydrate frequently and avoid getting overheated by taking breaks as needed. Happy walking!

TummyStyle offers womens fashions for all occasions. We offer only high-quality clothing made from the best fabrics by leading maternity designers from the United States and Europe. View our selection of maternity, nursing, and transition wear clothing. Our fashions are so comfortable and stylish, that they will become part of your extended wardrobe!